How to: Renovate your laundry room

Renovations

How to: Renovate your laundry room

Doing laundry isn’t a fun activity for most, but that doesn’t mean the laundry room should be ignored when renovating your home. If it’s well designed, it can be so convenient and efficient, you’ll be wishing you had more dirty clothes!Photography courtesy of istockphoto.com

Planning your layoutEveryone meticulously plans their kitchen and bathroom layouts, and it’s just as important to do so in a laundry room. It requires plumbing, venting and electrical, so taking the time to create a floor plan is crucial. Make sure you know where your vents and valves need to go. And remember, front-loading machines are designed to have the washer on the left and the dryer on the right. Place them the other way and you’ll be reaching awkwardly.

If you’re short on space, have your laundry room double as a storage area or mud room, based on its location and your needs. it may be as easy as adding more cabinets and counter space or installing an extra-large sink. the laundry room is built for function above all else, so think about multi-tasking when planning your layout.

Photography courtesy of Barry Calhoun

Laundry room locationGone are the days when doing laundry was relegated to a dark, damp corner in the basement. If you have the space to move your
laundry room to the main or second floor, do it! Not only will it be more convenient for you but it will also be a huge bonus for potential buyers. If you don’t have a room to dedicate to laundry, consider sacrificing a
linen closet and installing a compact, stackable unit.

Choosing the right machineThere are plenty of options when it comes to
washing machines. Here are some pointers to help you decide which is best for you.

Top loadersPRO: Least expensive option.
CON: Use the most energy and have a small capacity.

High-efficiency top loadersPRO: Use less energy than traditional top loaders.
CON: Can cost as much as a front loader but with less capacity.

Front loadersPRO: Most efficient in energy and water consumption; come in a variety of colours and styles.
CON: Can be very expensive information.
Wash/dry combo unitsPRO: Space-saving; great for cottages or long-term rentals.
CON: Very small capacity; expensive.